Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm less worried about the hotel location now. I'm still able to cancel up to 72 hours before the day of but I think I'll be keeping it.

The actual hotel I'll be staying at is Daiwa Roynet Hotel Osaka Kitahama and apparently its connected to Kitahama station. As an aside has anyone on flyertalk stayed with this chain? It reviews favorably on tripadvisor.

Also for transit tips I think for sure I'm going to plan to go to osaka castle and umeda sky building over a 2 day span for 3000 yen and will take advantage of the osaka amazing pass: https://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/facility/free.php

From what I read this pass is good for all local Osaka lines but NOT JR line. I'm assuming I can still get to the places I want to go without the JR line?

Along the same line of questions for transportation for the majority of days that I'll be hopping around and not in kyoto or kobe I plan on getting the "ecopass" for 800 yen for unlimited travel: http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/plan/pra..._eco_card.html

From what I gather from information that gives me access to non JR trains just like the amazing pass correct?

Thanks in advanced for info, there are lots of knowledgable posters on this board!